JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A man who pleaded guilty in March to stealing and selling materials from JEA has been sentenced to 20 months in federal prison.

Thomas William Allen, 45, a former JEA engineer, had been taking construction materials from JEA and selling them for his own personal funds, according to a release from U.S. Attorney Robert E. O'Neill.

JEA was awarded more than $10,000 in federal funds and was working to provide power to the Brooks Rehabilitation Bartram campus during construction, the release stated.

In September 2011, Allen started selling construction materials to an electrical contractor working on the same development project. Allen sold a total of $63,881 worth of construction materials that belonged to the City of Jacksonville, according to O'Neill's release.

Allen was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Taylor.